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Author Topic: a messed up john birch  (Read 28016 times)

Twinfan

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #30 on: October 28, 2010, 09:11:41 PM »
Mad, but cool!

Enjoy putting it back to it's former glory mate!

WezV

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #31 on: October 28, 2010, 09:35:00 PM »
will do  - first mystery to deal with... the wiring has officially got me confused!

looks like the rotary is not doing any mono/stereo operation as would be normal.

Seems to me like it gives
1. Bridge wired normal, neck wired in reverse (out of phase)
2. Bridge wired in reverse, neck wired normal (out of phase)
3. Bridge and neck wired normally (in phase)

God knows whats going on with those tone pots!

Seems like the mini toggle is supposed to be doing the mono/stereo bit - and the toggle is definately not original as there is a bit of butchery around it in the cavity

HTH AMPS

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #32 on: October 28, 2010, 10:54:04 PM »
I'd be interested in those DiMarzios Wez - my Mockingbird would love them (would get rid of the EMGs in it).

WezV

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #33 on: October 29, 2010, 10:46:24 AM »
cool, i will keep you in mind.

It all depends on sourcing some original style ones at a price i can afford.   If i cant then the dimarzios will stay as they look and sound pretty damn nice whilst still being period correct

I have emailed alan exley to see if he can help out


Philly Q

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #35 on: October 29, 2010, 01:46:59 PM »
Blimey, they're not cheap!  But I have no idea, are those reasonable market prices?
BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM

gwEm

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #36 on: October 29, 2010, 02:19:27 PM »
Blimey, they're not cheap!  But I have no idea, are those reasonable market prices?
as far as i know, thats definitely over the odd. philking is the real john birch expert here of course
Quote from: AndyR
you wouldn't use the meat knife on crusty bread but, equally, the serrated knife and straight edge knife aren't going to go through raw meat as quickly

WezV

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #37 on: October 29, 2010, 02:26:17 PM »
I thing about £1200 would be fair shop value for them - but they have got the make an offer button which always makes me think they have listed them at their ideal price.

anyway - back to the electronics.   I have contacted Alan Exley but he hasnt got any pickups available, does have original routing patterns for them though if i manage to get a set and need to plug and re-route cavities.

he also explained the thinking with the tone controls:
"the idea was, one way was treble cut & the other way was bass cut. so you could get a good tonal sweep, but in my way of thinking, I think this is a bad idea, cause it made the pick ups sound slightly dull & with less power, but the tone controls seem to be wired up incorrectly anyway. "

i have just had a little play with the wiring and it does seem to be all working. although as alan points out, the tone controls may be wired incorrectly.  To me they are oddly placed in the circuit with the signal having to go through them before reaching the volume

WezV

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #38 on: October 29, 2010, 02:46:39 PM »
i have updated my current diagram with the way things are currently wired and how they seem to be working



ToneMonkey

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #39 on: October 31, 2010, 10:35:48 AM »
Decided how you're going to refinish it?

I would be very tempted to leave it looking much as it does now.
Advice worth what you just paid for it.

WezV

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #40 on: October 31, 2010, 11:03:03 AM »
i think i will be, for a while at least 

WezV

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #41 on: October 31, 2010, 05:44:18 PM »
starting to prep for the reglue.   Since i had to remove the controls to make the fix easy i decided to completely strip all parts off to see is there were any surprises to be had.  took a load of photos too - all here:
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/John%20birch%20singlecut/

but some highlights:





the splits open up nicely, fit back together well and are nice clean maple inside - the best situation for a reglue.   

Notice the finish is really thick. its really going to highlight the location of the splits even when re-glued.  making me lean towards the refinish, should be able to get the splits invisible!

bridge pickup is 13.23k, neck is 7.89k - pretty much confirming they are an old Dimarzio super distortion/Paf set with rectangular feet

HTH AMPS

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #42 on: October 31, 2010, 06:52:07 PM »

bridge pickup is 13.23k, neck is 7.89k - pretty much confirming they are an old Dimarzio super distortion/Paf set with rectangular feet


aww maaaan, they would SO rock in my Mockingbird - thats what Rico used in the old days.  I giggied my Mockingbird last night and the tone with the EMGs was just too smooth for me, they just have no cut.




WezV

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Re: a messed up john birch
« Reply #43 on: October 31, 2010, 07:03:52 PM »
you have first dibs if i do change them.